Promises Well on Gas
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Scammell utonner and Enness Trailer Producer-gas Plant Constitute Notably Well-matched Combination EVIDENCE that the big Scammell four-cylindered petrol engine is a type well suited for use with producer gas is afforded by a conversion just carried out by Hamilton Motors (London), Ltd., 466-490, Edgware Road, London, W.2. This concern has equipped a 12-ton six-wheeler, of the well-known chain-drive type, with an Enness plant, made by Neil and Spencer, Ltd., 43, Clapham Crescent, London, S.W.4.
Only just completed, the outfit is hardly, at the time of writing, out of its trials, but the performance so far obtained shows excellent promise. The Enness producer, filter and cooling cylinders, of which there are six, are carried on a two-wheeled trailer, towed behind the lorry. The plant forms a self-contained unit, incorporating also a radiator for the water-cooling of the tuyere.
Gas is conveyed from the trailer to the engine by a 25-ft. pipe line, incorporating flexible joints at appropriate points. This runs along the near side of the chassis, crossing in front of the power unit, where it is exposed to the cooling influence of the fan. Then it is connected to the latest type Enness mixing valve—a neat unit, as can be seen from an accompanying picture.
For particulars of the design of this valve, also for a description of the Enness gas plant itself, we refer our readers to our issue dated March 16. A noteworthy feature is that therq are separate gas and air, throttles, which are inter-coupled and operated by the accelerator pedal, whilst a hand control regulates the proportion of the air-gas mixture. There is a further hand con
trol for running the power unit on petrol for starting up the producer, shunting, reversing, etc.
The plant, designated type EH, has a capacity of 6 cwt. of Progasite, the fuel to be used, and the trailer upon which it is mounted is that standardized for the purpose and built by the Hamilton Motors concern. It is attached to the rear of the Scammell by a quick-coupling ball-joint, a product of Diamond Motors (Wolverhampton), Ltd.
Converted to the order of a Coventry operator, the vehicle has a big Duramin body, tilt-covered and of the double_ deck type. It is used for the transport of Morris engines, and runs, in the main, between Coventry and Oxford.
With regard to its performance capabilities, we are informed that with a load it is capable of a maximum speed on the level of 35 m.p.h. on gas, as opposed to 40 m.p.h. on petrol. We can state, from our own observations, that its behaviour on solid fuel appears highly satisfactory, and that the facility and rapidity with which the plant is started up seem definitely noteworthy.
What part the long pipe line, superior cooling arrangements, size of producer in relation to engine, etc., play in promoting the generation and supply of good gas, and for what part the characteristics of the power unit are responsible it is impossible, at the present, to state, but the fact remains that the apparatus and the " big-four " unit seem to be remarkably well matched.